Issue, 25, Leprosy, published on December 2005.

Leprosy

Among communicable diseases, leprosy is a striking disease. Initially, leprosy symptoms may be hardly noticed. During the course of the disease skin lesions become more visible and nerves are damaged irreversibly resulting in deformities, and disabilities. The disease and its associated disabilities are responsible for social stigma and discrimination against patients and their families in many communities.

Leprosy control activities, which include diagnosis, treatment with MDT, patient and family counselling, community education, prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation and referral for complications, can be carried out with help from health staff as part of the management of the disease. Therefore, it is important that health staff and the community know how to respond to this challenge.

In this issue of Health Messenger you will find a detailed discussion of each activity. Timely diagnosis and treatment of cases, before nerve damage has occurred, is the most effective way of preventing disability due to leprosy; effective management of leprosy complications, including reactions, can prevent or minimize the development of further disability.